Community Spread is defined as: None: COVID-19 cases may occur in the community, but there is NO community transmission. Minimal to Moderate: There are 1-4 cases of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county. Substantial: There are 5+ cases of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county or a distinct group of cases in a single area (e.g., city or county).
By Kelli Bultena
Lincoln County experienced a downward trend in active COVID-19 cases for two weeks, however, on Sunday the active cases did go back up to 44. As of Wednesday, May 27 Lincoln County has 42 active cases with 194 recovered cases. Patients ever-hospitalized in the county is at 20.
Lincoln County is still defined as having substantial community spread. There are seven counties in the state that are defined as having substantial community spread, which is defined as five plus cases of community- acquired COVID-19 in a county or a distinct group of cases in a single area (e.g., city or county). Along with Lincoln County, the other counties in South Dakota are Yankton, Union, Minnehaha, Beadle, Brown, and Pennington.
“The community impact map is meant to inform the public and leaders about the level of spread within their county and leaders should use this tool as one of the factors they consider as they make decisions,” said Derrick Haskins, Communications Director with the South Dakota Department of Health.
As for the entire state of South Dakota, statewide cases are at 4710 as of May 27, with 3619 of those recovered and 1037 of those active. Deaths in South Dakota due to COVID-19 are at 54. Currently hospitalized for the virus are 101 patients.
A new feature on the South Dakota Department of Health website tracks the percentage of hospital beds available, currently it is showing the staffed hospital bed capacity at 4% and the staffed ICU bed capacity at 11%. The ventilator capacity is at 2%.
For more data on the South Dakota cases visit covid.sd.gov and click the “Case Updates” menu.
As a country, according to John Hopkins University and Medicine, the United States has 1,685,955 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 99,264 deaths as a result of COVID-19 as of May 27, 2020.
According to the CDC, it is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.
CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.